Guidance

Food production, plants, animals and associated sectors: preparing your business

Updated 28 May 2026

Reason for the changes   

The UK government is negotiating an agreement with the EU on the trade and movement of plants, plant products, animals, animal products, feed and food. This is called a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement. 

The agreement means Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland will apply certain rules in line with the EU. These arrangements will apply whether or not you trade directly with the EU. It is our intention that the agreement will take effect in mid-2027. 

As EU rules change in the future, rules in Great Britain will update too. The UK will contribute to the decision-shaping process on future EU rules that will also apply in Great Britain. 

Read more about the benefits in the UK-EU SPS agreement – information for businesses news story. 

As negotiations are ongoing, not all details are confirmed at this stage. This includes detailed requirements and the exact timing of when arrangements will change. We recognise that some businesses will take longer to comply and we are committed to working with them to ensure a smooth transition. Further information will be provided following the completion of negotiations. 

Why this matters 

The changes under the SPS agreement are relevant to all farmers, growers and associated businesses across Great Britain involved in: 

• producing and moving food 
• plants, plant products (such as timber) and other regulated objects (such as used agricultural machinery) 
• animal products, germinal products and live animals 
• supporting these sectors, including arable and livestock farming, the horticulture trade, forestry, aquaculture, veterinarians, advisors and industry bodies

The agreement will shape how standards are set and applied across the sector. Specifically, the changes might: 

• affect what you produce and move, and how you do this, including the standards that you must meet  
• open new opportunities for trade and change the way you do this 
• impact costs and processes 
• affect you through supply chains  

What this means for the farming and growing sector 

These changes may affect: 

• types of inputs and their cost and application (such as feed, pesticides, biocides) 
• the time you need to take and processes you need to follow for compliance (such as record keeping, checks and marketing requirements) 
• what your buyers or suppliers require from you 
• the control measures put in place during pest and disease outbreaks 

What businesses should know at this stage 

Organisations and businesses, including farmers, growers, traders and aquaculturists, are encouraged to continue engaging with the process to be ready by mid-2027.  

At this stage, you are not expected to make detailed changes. You should consider the changes to the requirements and how they could affect your business. The government will provide more detail in summer 2026, including next steps.    

What we know now (and what will be confirmed later) 

As negotiations with the EU are ongoing, not all of the details are confirmed at this stage. This information outlines what is known now to help you start planning, with further detail to follow later this year.   

Plants, plant products, crops and other regulated objects 

There will be changes to requirements for plants and plant products, including in areas such as plant checks, certification and movement controls. These changes could affect how plants are grown and moved. Changes could also affect the movement of other regulated objects, such as used agricultural and forestry machinery and equipment, between Great Britain and the EU. 

If you grow plants and crops  

The rules that you need to follow if you produce or move plants and plant products will change. For instance, EU plant passports will replace UK plant passports.  

Aligning with EU plant health requirements will mean that some pests will be categorised differently and Great Britain will need to adopt the EU categorisations. This may impact the ways in which you manage these pests and diseases. 

The rules on pesticides and biocides will change.  

The plant protection product (PPP), maximum residue levels (MRLs) and biocides processes are complex and have diverged from EU rules since EU Exit. For example, the EU and Great Britain have taken different decisions on the approval, withdrawal or renewal of approval of active substances. Some decisions have also been taken at different times or accounted for environmental conditions or socio-economic needs specific to either Great Britain or the EU. These challenges are being worked through during negotiations. We are considering what targeted arrangements may be possible for areas where it will be most challenging to implement the necessary changes under the agreement.

For pesticides, this means that in Great Britain active substances and pesticide maximum residue levels (MRLs) will be aligned with the EU. This means that when EU rules on active substances and maximum residue levels change, they will be mirrored in Great Britain.  This may affect: 

• the pesticides and biocides you can buy 
• how you can use them 
• the types of products you can use on your farm 
• the maximum residue levels (MRLs) permitted in food and animal feed

This may have implications for you and how you manage your business even if you do not trade with the EU.   

You may need to consider switching to alternative active substances if some pesticides or biocides are no longer approved under the new system. Some pesticide products could be withdrawn, or have their uses limited. Others may become available.  

Businesses should work with industry bodies to understand where they are most reliant on plant protection products that are incompatible with EU requirements. They will also need to consider methods for safe use-up and disposal of any products that will no longer be permitted for use under the new system.  

If you breed plants and crops  

Alignment with the EU on plant variety rights will give you the option to protect your plant varieties across the UK and EU through a single right. This will make it easier for you to control how your plant varieties are used across both markets. 

You will be able to apply to list your plant varieties in one EU member state country or in Great Britain’s national catalogue of varieties. For example, if accepted on to the Great Britain Variety List, your plant varieties will be added to the EU’s Common Catalogue of varieties. 

Alignment with certification and marketing requirements for plant and forest reproductive material will mean you will no longer be required to apply for Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) certification for movements to and from the EU. 

The UK government will align with EU rules on genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Precision breeding is subject to ongoing negotiations between the UK and the EU as part of the SPS agreement. 

If you import, export or move plants and crops within Great Britain  

Phytosanitary certificates will no longer be required for movement to the EU.  

EU plant passports will replace UK plant passports. There will no longer be border checks on plants moving between Great Britain and the EU. There may be additional growing season inspections needed in 2026 to meet EU plant passport requirements in 2027. This will mean inspectors might be on your site for longer in 2026, but you will not be charged for any additional work carried out before the SPS agreement is implemented.

The export of seed potatoes will resume. This will reopen the EU market for this important sector.  

Import checks on plants and plant products entering Great Britain from the EU will stop, but some post import checks will still apply to some plants. 

Reduced border disruption may lower costs associated with contingency planning, delayed deliveries, temporary storage and spoilage risks, particularly for fresh plants, young plants and seasonal horticultural products where timing is important. 

Small and medium-sized businesses may particularly benefit from reduced non-tariff barriers, as smaller consignments and consolidated loads should become easier and more cost-effective to move between Great Britain and the EU. 

Businesses will still be responsible for ensuring that commercial documentation and consignment information remain accurate and complete. Errors or omissions may still result in delays, inspections or disruption where controls continue to apply. 

An additional notification system will be needed for the import of high-risk plant imports from the EU. This will be similar to the system that was in place previously and will safeguard Great Britain from known biosecurity risks.  

Great Britain will align with the EU’s rules on rest of world imports. Phytosanitary certificates will be required for imports of rest of world goods (goods coming from outside the EU). As a result, inspections of certain rest of world imports will increase to align with the level of inspections set out in the EU. This includes some goods that are not currently subject to routine inspection.

There will be changes to reporting and inspection systems to meet the requirements of the EU Plant Health Regulation. You will need to participate in the EU’s reporting and inspection systems to prove that your business is reducing the risk of outbreaks from plant imports and exports. Reporting information will be shared with the EU and used to help shape future inspection assurance approaches in Great Britain. 

Other changes that may affect growers of fresh produce 

Some businesses, including some farmers and growers, may need to make changes to their products and practices to ensure they are compliant with new rules relating to EU marketing standards, food labelling and organics.  

All businesses across the UK will need to follow relevant EU rules for organics, whether they trade with the EU or only operate within Great Britain. Find more detail in the organics sector guidance.

The main food labelling rules will change very little. If you sell organic products you will need to update labelling to include the EU organic logo and the EU statement of agricultural origin. For more detail on changes to marketing standards and labelling, read the food manufacturing, processing and standards guidance.

There will be some changes to the composition of certain products, such as minimum levels of fruit in jams. For more detail on changes to compositional standards, read the food manufacturing, processing and standards guidance.

Businesses should ensure that relevant staff understand which products remain subject to SPS requirements and what processes apply under the new arrangements. Ongoing awareness and training will help businesses maintain compliance as arrangements change. 

Live animals 

If you keep animals  

There will be changes to requirements for keeping animals. This will include animals such as: 

• pigs 
• cattle 
• camelids (such as llamas and alpacas) 
• deer 
• equines 
• poultry 
• other captive birds 
• bees 
• small ruminants 
• aquatic animals 

Changes will cover areas such as: 

• traceability 
• identification 
• registration 
• record keeping – including on movements  
• how diseases and outbreaks are reported and managed 
• disease prevention measures you may need to take 
• disease control measures required in the event of an outbreak 

If you import or export live animals (such as for breeding), germinal products or animal products with the EU 

There will be changes to certification requirements. Export health certificates (which typically can cost up to £200 per consignment) will no longer be required to trade with the EU. In some cases, these will be replaced with Intra Trade Animal Health Certificates (ITAHCs), which are cheaper and less complex. 

If you move animals, products of animal origin, animal by-products and germinal products between Great Britain and the EU or Northern Ireland, you may need to use the EU system TRACES (Trade Control and Expert System) for tracking, notifying and certifying.  

Whilst many checks will no longer take place on goods moving between Great Britain and the EU, some checks will remain (such as on live animals and germinal products). 

Checks will no longer take place at border control posts. 

If you import or export live animals (such as for breeding), germinal products or animal product with non-EU countries 

Export health certificates will still be required to import and export from non-EU third countries. 

Great Britain will also align with EU import rules. This means that check rates on animals and their products arriving in Great Britain from non-EU countries will be the same as the check rates that the EU applies on these goods where they originate in non-EU third countries.  

The UK will continue to be responsible for market access of Great Britain exports to non-EU third countries. 

Imports from non-EU third countries which enter Great Britain will be required to meet EU import requirements and be checked at a border control post in Great Britain if the consignment’s destination is Great Britain, Northern Ireland or an EU member state. Once checked, the consignments will be free to move onto their place of destination in Great Britain, Northern Ireland or the EU. 

Where animals, products of animal origin, animal by-products and germinal products are rejected at an EU border control post, updated EU rules will apply to returning them. 

If you produce, manufacture or use animal feed 

Under the agreement, existing Great Britain feed additive authorisations will no longer apply. EU authorisations will apply in Great Britain in their place.   

Feed authorisations in Great Britain and the EU have diverged since EU Exit, in terms of modification of existing authorisations, revocations and new authorisations. This divergence will continue during the negotiations of the SPS agreement.  

You need to check the following resources to determine whether you need to reformulate any of your products or change the products you use to comply with EU rules under the SPS agreement:  

• for feed additives, you will need to check the EU’s Register of Feed Additives 
• for feed materials and feed for particular nutritional purposes, you will need to check the catalogue of feed materials, the register of feed materials and list of intended uses of feed for particular nutritional purposes  
• businesses making feed additive applications to the EU will need to follow the EU process and guidance under the SPS agreement   

All feed businesses making market authorisation applications will need to follow the updated transparency rules in the EU’s General Food Law. This means businesses will be required to proactively disclose and notify EFSA of commissioned studies. EFSA provided a Q&A update in 2023 to clarify some of the updated rules, which businesses will need to review.

Since EU Exit, the EU has introduced new, additional or revised maximum levels for contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), heavy metals (such lead and cadmium), mycotoxins and plant toxins in various foods. You will need to ensure compliance with the levels set out in EU Regulation 2023/915.

Imported high-risk feed not of animal origin 

Great Britain will also be aligning with EU controls on high-risk food and feed of non-animal origin. This means controls on goods from non-EU countries will be the same as the controls that the EU applies on these goods.   

Importers from non-EU countries should check whether their commodity, based on country of origin, is controlled under EU regulation 2019/1793. If so, this would mean imported consignments need to be pre-notified to a designated border control post with the submission of a common health entry document (CHED-D).  

Official certification and pre-export analysis may also be required. Importers should note that this legislation is dynamic, based upon risks, so is subject to change prior to alignment.    

Other changes that may affect livestock and poultry farmers 

Some businesses, including some farmers and growers, may need to make changes to their products and practices to ensure they are compliant with new rules that are put in place relating to EU marketing standards, food labelling and organics. 

Requirements for products of animal origin and animal by-products will change to align with the EU. For example, the form of identification marks applied to products of animal origin, including meat and dairy products, may change. There may also be changes to the way in which products of animal origin are processed and distributed, as well as the certification requirements for imports and exports and domestic trade. We will have clarity on whether certain changes will be required and if so, whether a transition period will apply, once negotiations conclude. 

When businesses change the composition of their products, or adjust their practices, they may need also to change their labels to ensure they remain accurate and compliant with food labelling rules. For more detail on changes to marketing standards and labelling, read the food manufacturing, processing and standards guidance.

EU poultry meat marketing standards updates introduce a shift to risk‑based controls and inspections, simplifying documentation requirements. They also allow additional national technical measures and enable the European Commission’s oversight inspections while retaining core product classifications and temperature handling rules. For more detail on changes to processing, read the food manufacturing, processing and standards guidance.

All organic farmers and growers across the UK will need to follow relevant EU rules for organics, whether they trade with the EU or only operate within Great Britain. Find more detail in the organics sector guidance.

Some EU hygiene rules for foods of animal origin have changed since EU Exit. Businesses will need to ensure compliance with these rules under the SPS agreement. Amendments include extending the sell-by date for eggs, and some new requirements, such as in the areas of temperature control and dry ageing of meat.   

Since EU Exit, the EU has introduced new, additional or revised maximum levels for contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), heavy metals (for example, lead and cadmium), mycotoxins and plant toxins in various foods. All food and feed businesses will need to ensure compliance with the levels set out in EU Regulation 2023/915. For more detail on food hygiene and contaminants, read the food manufacturing, processing and standards guidance.

Biosecurity 

Biosecurity will remain a core priority. UK government will continue to take national action to protect biosecurity.   

Under the SPS agreement, we will work jointly with the EU on threats to the UK’s biosecurity and public health.  

The agreement will facilitate safe trade in SPS goods, including through UK access to EU agencies, systems and databases, which will promote transparency of movements and strengthen information sharing.  

The UK will play a key role, alongside EU member states, in protecting the shared UK and EU SPS area from external biosecurity and public health risks, while also having the shared responsibility to address any risks that arise internally. This includes sharing our data, science and evidence to inform effective actions.  

The Common Understanding states that the UK should be able to take targeted action to protect its biosecurity and public health, in the same way as member states.

Importing and exporting 

The new SPS agreement is relevant to all businesses and organisations involved in importing and exporting SPS goods between the UK, EU and the rest of the world. 

For trade between Great Britain and the EU, the SPS agreement will reduce the requirements for routine SPS documentation and controls. The requirements for export health certificates, phytosanitary certificates and routine border checks for most agrifood goods will be removed. Alignment with EU rules will mean there will be alignment with the EU’s approach to checks on rest of world SPS trade. Requirements for trade with countries outside the EU will also continue to apply, in line with international rules. 

Customs controls will remain. 

Great Britain to Northern Ireland movements 

Under the SPS agreement, most agrifood goods will not need routine SPS certificates, checks and paperwork when moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. 

This will mean export health certificates and phytosanitary certificates, and the checks and controls associated with them, will no longer be required. 

This will apply to all products that can be moved into the EU, which will include all food for processing, many retail products and, for example, plants for planting, seeds, and used agricultural and forestry machinery. The final restrictions on the movement of certain tree species will disappear. 

The Windsor Framework will continue to apply, addressing Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances and safeguarding the Good Friday Agreement. This facilitates Northern Ireland’s dual market access to both the UK internal market and the EU single market. 

In practice, the movement schemes set up under the Windsor Framework should no longer be needed, other than potentially for a limited number of goods not covered by the agreement. The Northern Ireland plant health label (NIPHL) scheme will not be needed at all. 

Early considerations for your business 

To prepare for the UK-EU SPS agreement, you can now take the following steps: 

• sign up for Defra email alerts and the SPS readiness mailing list to receive the latest updates 
• check whether the SPS agreement is likely to apply to your business, especially if you produce, handle, move or trade animals, animal products, plants, plant products, food or feed – check how to prepare your business 
• review your current supply chains and movements (including domestic movements and movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland) to understand where SPS requirements may apply 
• consider where your business currently follows EU rules and where you may have diverged since EU Exit 
• speak to relevant partners (for example suppliers, customers, hauliers, vets or certification bodies) about potential future changes 
• check with trusted sector organisations or trade bodies for any sector specific advice and updates 

There are also some sector-specific actions that you may wish to take: 

• based on the information provided, consider if your goods are in scope  
• consider whether this changes how you produce, move, sell or buy goods, and what buyers and suppliers may expect from you 
• consider whether any of your current practices (for example, certification, inputs, records, standards) may need to change 
• start conversations with others in your sector or professional network about what the changes could mean in practice
• consider what this could mean for your costs and the time needed to meet requirements, including any potential efficiencies or opportunities
• identify areas where more clarity, information or support may be needed, and stay informed as more information becomes available 

Exceptions 

The EU has accepted there will need to be areas where the UK will retain its own rules, as set out in the May 2025 Common Understanding. Details of these are subject to the ongoing negotiation.  

The government has been clear about the importance of being able to: 

• set high animal welfare standards 
• support public health 
• support the use of new and innovative technologies 

Further information will be provided following the completion of the negotiations.  

What happens next 

It is our intention that the agreement will take effect in mid-2027. Some detailed requirements and exact timings of when arrangements will change are still being finalised as part of ongoing negotiations.  

Defra will continue to work with the sector to help shape future communications, guidance and support as further detail becomes available. We have set up an SPS Readiness Business Advisory Council, which is now meeting regularly. The council includes major trade associations and businesses.  

The following timeline sets out the expected stages for introducing the SPS agreement and when further information will be published: 

• summer 2026 – further details on upcoming changes announced, including on any exceptions and transition periods
• autumn 2026 – detailed guidance and support, including checklists and practical tools, made available 
• mid-2027 – agreement takes effect (subject to negotiations) 

Further information will be provided following the completion of negotiations. 

Stay informed 

We will continue to publish updates as further detail is confirmed. To keep up to date, you can: 

• sign up for Defra email alerts and the SPS readiness mailing list 
• engage with your trade body or industry association for sector-specific updates, where relevant 

You can also get additional support from other government agencies if you are a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME). Contact:  

• Department for Business and Trade: Ask our export support team at the Department for Business and Trade a question
• Food Standards Agency: Regulated products application guidance